Julian Fellowes: I might quit Downton Abbey for The Gilded Age

Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes has hinted that he may cease involvement with the series so that he can focus on new American show The Gilded Age.

The Oscar winner told The New York Times that his commitment to the new period drama might mean that he won’t have time to work on Downton anymore.

‘If I’m doing a series at NBC, I would not be able to write all of Downton and all of that series at the same time,’ he said.

‘I would hope that by the time all the hurdles have been cleared, the timing makes it so I can then concentrate on the new series.

‘If Downton goes on – of course, that’s not my decision – then it would be with other writers. Perhaps with me supervising, but with other writers.

‘There’s no point, really, in making pronouncements of absolutes,’ said the writer.

Downton fans will be disappointed to hear Fellowes could leave the series for the US (Picture: ITV)

‘The only thing is, I know I would not be able to write 11 hours of Downton and 10 hours of The Gilded Age, or whatever it is, side by side.’

Fellowes went on to deny that Downton bosses have an exact date in mind for the demise of the series, but said: ‘My own belief is that these things have a life, and one of the tricks is to recognise when it’s time to come to an end,” he acknowledged. “But we haven’t made a decision when that will be. Some things go on for 20 years, don’t they, but I just don’t see Downton being one of them.”